Sheet insertion and removing device

ABSTRACT

An automatic sheet insertion and removing device for use in microfilm readers or the like which comprises a guide tray for sheet insertion or removing, a support board for the sheet which is adapted to reciprocate relative to the guide tray in a plane level with the surface of the guide tray and the line of engagement of a pair of feeding rollers which are disposed between the support board and the guide tray. The sheet inserted onto the guide tray is automatically fed through the feeding rollers to a predetermined position on the support board which advances to a data retrieval position in a reader apparatus and which returns to an original starting position after the data retrieval, so that the sheet subsequently returned, through the rollers, back onto the guide tray for removing, thus damage or wear to the sheets being advantageously reduced.

Unite 12 States Patent [1 1 Toriumi et al.

[ Dec. 16, 1975 1 SHEET INSERTION AND REMOVING DEVICE [73] Assignee:Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha,

Osaka, Japan [22] Filed: Nov. 27, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 527,767

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 271/265, 272, 84, 264, 227, 236;353/114; 40/36, 79, 63 A, 64 A, 106.1; 214/1 BB [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS Cobb 271/3 3,860,230 l/1975 Georges 271/3 PrimaryExaminerEvon C. Blunk Assistant ExaminerBruce H. Stoner, Jr. Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack [57] ABSTRACT An automatic sheetinsertion and removing device for use in microfilm readers or the likewhich comprises a guide tray for sheet insertion or removing, a supportboard for the sheet which is adapted to reciprocate relative to theguide tray in a plane level with the surface of the guide tray and theline of engagement of a pair of feeding rollers which are disposedbetween the support board and the guide tray. The sheet inserted ontothe guide tray is automatically fed through the feeding rollers to apredetermined position on the support board which advances to a dataretrieval position in a reader apparatus and which returns to anoriginal starting position after the data retrieval, so that the sheetsubsequently returned, through the rollers, back onto the guide tray forremoving, thus damage or wear to the sheets being advantageouslyreduced.

11 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures US. atant Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 1 0143,926,426

FIG. I

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet20f4 3,926,426

FIG. 4

US. atent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet3of4 3,926,426

FIG. 6 (a) M 1 (5 FIG. 6 (a) US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet4 of43,926,426

SHEET INSERTION AND REMOVING DEVICE The present invention relates to asheet insertion and removing device, and more particularly to aninsertion and removing device for sheets such as microfilm in card formwhich must be inserted and accurately positioned in an apparatus such asa microfilm reader and subsequently removed without damage thereto.

In many known processes it is required to insert and subsequently removea sheet of comparatively delicate material into and from a particularapparatus, a common example of such a process being the retrieval ofdata stored on a sheet of microfilm by insertion thereof into amicrofilm reader. Microfilm carrying data may be stored in the form inwhich it was exposed, i.e. in roll-form, or as separates frames, orgroups of frames, which are mounted on special cards, or kept in specialholders, to constitute individual units of information, and it issometimes also found advantageous to film closely related data, forexample successive pages of a report, on a single sheet of microfilm. Toretrieve data stored on such sheets, it is necessary to accuratelyposition the film in a microfilm reader, which comprises magnificationmeans and an opaque or translucent screen onto or through which thecontents of the film are projected at a readable size. In this processmicrofilm sheet wear has been a particular problem since loading ofmicrofilm sheets, in conventional readers, is completely manual. Inconventional readers a sheet of microfilm is initially laid on a supportboard, which may be transparent or opaque depending on the type ofmicrofilm and reader, and it is usually necessary to make fineadjustments to the setting of the microfilm sheet, which is effected bymanually applying slight pressure and sliding the sheet on the supportboard until it comes into the required position, this adjustment beinginevitably accompanied by friction between the board and sheet. Also, toremove the microfilm sheet from the reader, it is always necessary tosimultaneously press and slide the microfilm sheet manually until aholdable portion thereof is moved clear of the support board, againresulting in undue wear of the sheet mainly due to friction.

Accordingly, an essential object of the present invention is to providean improved insertion and removing device for microfilm sheets or thelike in which damage and wear to the sheets are advantageously avoidedwith substantial elimination of the disadvantages inherent in theconventional devices.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide aninsertion and removing device of the above described type which permitsautomatic setting of sheets relative to a support board. I

A further object of the present invention is to provide an insertion andremoving device of the above described type which is simple inconstruction, and accurate and efficient in functioning with consequentlow cost. I

In accomplishing these and other objects there is provided, according tothe present invention; a sheet insertion and removing device, which,while suited to many processes, is particularly adapted to use inassociation with supply of microfilm sheets into and from a microfilmreader, and wherein a sheet to be inserted into and subsequently removedfrom the device is initially fed manually onto a tray and into a passagewherein the sheet causes an actuation signal to be supplied to means foradvancing the sheet into a required position on a movable and coverablecarrier, in which position the sheet actuates means causing the carrierto move to a required position in the apparatus. Subsequently, whenreturning to its initial position, the carrier actuates means causingreverse actuation of the advancing means, whereby the sheet is againsupplied onto the loading tray, from which it may be removed manually,and thus damage and wear of the microfilm sheets inherent in theconventional devices are advantageously eliminated.

A better understanding of the present invention may be had from thefollowing full description when read in reference to the attacheddrawings, in which,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet insertion and removing deviceaccording to one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are electrical circuit diagrams of control circuitsassociable with the device of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a sheet insertion and removing deviceaccording to another embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 6a through c are detail views of sheet advance means employed inthe device of FIG. 5, and

- FIGS. 7 and 8 are electrical circuit diagrams of control circuitsassociable with the device of FIG. 5.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a sheet insertionand removing device according to the invention which by way of exampleis shown as a device for insertion and removal of microfilm sheets intoand from a microfilm reader, it being understood that the device isequally associable with other processes.

The device shown comprises a base 1 of rectangular shape, a horizontalguide tray 2 of similar rectangular shape with somewhat smallerdimension than the base 1 and with sides of the tray 2 disposed inparallel to the sides of the base 1, which guide tray 2 is supportedabove the base 1 by legs 2a each extending downward at right angles fromthe opposite side edges of the tray 2 and suitably secured to the base 1and on which guide tray 2 a guide plate 3 is mounted in slightly spacedrelation to the surface of the tray 2, a pair of vertical bearingcolumns 7a and 7b for supporting a pair of feeding rollers 4a and 4b,which columns 7a and 7b are suitably secured, in spaced relation to eachother, to the base 1 in positions adjacent to front edge of the tray 2and disposed in a direction parallel to the side edges of the tray 2, asmall column 20a for supporting a microswitch 20 extendingupwardly atright angles from the surface of the base 1 at a position adjacent tothe front edge of the base 1, a base block 8 of rectangular shapefixedly mounted on a carrier plate 15, which carrier plate 15 ishorizontally supported on supporting means (not shown) for reciprocatingmotion, and the surface of which base block 8 is level with that of thetray 2 with engagement line of the rollers 4a and 4b therebetween, asupport board 9 fixedly disposed on the surface of the base block 8, anda press board 10 hingedly secured to the base block 8 for covering theboard 9.

The pair of rollers 4a and 4b which are in parallel and in rotatingcontact with each other are each fixedly mounted on a shaft rotatablyjoumaled, at opposite ends thereof, in the upperends of the bearingcolumns 7a and 7b. On the ends of the rotatory shafts extending throughthe bearing column 7a, gear wheels 6 and 6' are fixedly mounted; whichgears afid 6' are in mesh 3 with each other and transmit drive from oneof the rollers 4a and 4b to the other.

One of the rollers 4a and 4b, for example, the roller 4a, is drivendirectly by a reversible motor 5, which is mounted for example on theoutside of bearing column 7b, or supported on a reader apparatus portionnot indicated.

The tray 2 is generally equal in width to, and is slightly shorter than,a microfilm sheet S, and serves for feed-in and feed-out of microfilmsheets S to and from the rollers 4a and 4b, which may move a microfilmsheet S from the tray 2 onto the carrier 15, described below, or viceversa, according to whether motor is actuated to supply forward orreverse drive. The tray 2 constitutes a plane horizontal surface in linewith the engagement line of the rollers 4a and 4b, and has an outer,rear edge which is curved downwardly, to permit smooth loading orunloading of microfilm sheets S thereonto or therefrom, and a front edgeadjacent to the rollers 40 and 4b. Over the front portion of the tray 2,there is provided the guide plate 3, which has a width approximatelyhalf that of the tray 2, and short, rightangles edges which fix onopposite edges of the tray 2, and permit the main portion of the guideplate 3 to stand slightly clear of the tray 2, whereby there is formed amicrofilm sheet passage p between the tray 2 and guide plate 3. Theheight of the sheet passage p is preferably made only slightly greaterthan the thickness of a microfilm sheet S. The edge of the guide plate 3at the entry of the sheet passage p i.e., the end thereof remote fromthe rollers 4a and 4b is upwardly curved, to prevent catching of sheetsS entering the passage p. In the interior of the passage p, near oneside thereof, there is provided a microswitch 18 which is actuatable bya non-sensitive edge portion of a sheet S passing through the passage p.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, on the side of the rollers 4a and 4bopposite to the tray 2 there is the carrier plate 15, which is slidablysupported on means not shown and may be moved, by drive means not shown,away from the rollers 4a and 4b to a requisite position relative to theoptical system of a reading screen in microfilm reader apparatus, orback to the vicinity of the rollers 4a and 4b. The carrier platesupports the base block 8, which is in fixed attachment thereto, and onwhose upper surface there is provided the sheet support board 9. Thesupport board 9 provides reception, in a manner described below, for amicrofilm sheet S to be carried into a reader apparatus, has an uppersurface level with that of the tray 2 and is bordered along two edges byguide strips 11 and 12, which extend at right angles to the line ofengagement of the rollers 4a and 4b, and are mounted on the base block 8or the support board 9, the area of the support board 9 defined betweenthe stips 11 and 12 being generally equal to that of a microfilm sheetS. The edges of the guide strips 1 l and 12 adjacent to the supportboard 9 are bevelled to preclude jamming of a sheet S during transferthereof onto or from the board 9. The material of which the supportboard 9 is made depends on the type of microfilm sheet S employed. Theboard 9 is made of nontransparent material if an image of microfilmsheet S contents are obtained by reflection and the microfilm sheet S isopaque. If the microfilm sheet S is made transparent to permitprojection of the contents thereof by a light source provided to therear thereof, the support board also is made transparent. In the lattercase, the carrier 15 and base block 8 are constituted as frames definingopenings at least equal in size to the data-carrying portion of amicrofilm sheet S. Adjacent to the outer edge of the support board 9,i.e., the edge thereof remote from the rollers 4a and 4b, there isprovided on the base block 8 a pair of positioning studs 13 and 14, withwhich the leading edge of a microfilm sheet S fed onto the support board9 comes into contact, and which ensure that a microfilm sheet S isproperly squared on the support board 9, the line between the studs 13and 14 being parallel to the outer edge of the board 9. For a microfilmsheet whose leading edge engaging the studs 13 and 14 is of a straightline, the studs 13 and 14 serves to position such a sheet only relativeto the direction in which the sheet advances toward the carrier 15, but,for a microfilm sheet in which notches, for example, V-shaped notches,are formed in its leading edge at positions corresponding to the studs13 and 14, the studs 13 and 14 serves for lateral positioning of thesheet as well as the positioning of the same in respect to the advancingdirection.

In line with the studs 13 and 14 there is a microswitch 19 which isactuatable by a microfilm sheet S that has been fed completely onto thesupport board 9, and serves to actuate carrier 15 drive means.

Fixedly or integrally attached to opposite corners of the outer edge ofthe base block 8 there are provided fixed extensions 8a supporting fixedpins on which hinge portions 10b of a press board base are pivotallymounted. The base 10a is fixedly or integrally at tached on a pressboard 10 which is transparent, is weighted or made of a comparativelyheavy material, and contacts the sheet support board 9 through themedium of a microfilm sheet S when allowed to move downwards under itsown weight, and may have formed therein cut-out portions to avoidcontact of the studs 13 and 14 or microswitch 19 by the press board 10.The hinged portions 10b of the base 100 extend above the level of thebase block 8 to a distance such that, when unopposed, and allowed to lieon a microfilm sheet S on the support board 9, the press board 10 isgenerally horizontal. The press board 10 may be moved out of ahorizontal alignment due to the engagement of a fixed, horizontal pin 16by a vertically aligned lever 17 having an inclined end, the pin 16being mounted in a block fixedly attached to the press board base 10a,and the lever 17 being fixedly mounted in a portion of a readerapparatus not shown. When the carriers 15 has been moved some distancefrom the rollers 4a and 4b, the pin 16 is not engaged by the lever 17,and the press board is allowed to move under its own weight into ahorizontal alignment to press on a microfilm sheet S on the supportboard 9. When, however, the carrier 15 is moved to the vicinity of therollers 40 and 4b, the pin 16 is engaged by and rides on the curved endportion of the lever 17, thereby causing the press board 10 to be movedupwards, out of contact with a microfilm sheet S on the support board 9.Also, when the carrier 15 is in the vicinity of the rollers 4a and 4b, aprojection 15a affixed to the lower surface of the carrier 15 actuatesthe above-mentioned microswitch 20.

lt should be noted here that, instead of the pair of feeding rollers 4aand 4b described as employed in the above embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, apair of side rollers which are rotatably mounted on the tray 2 so as toengage the side of the microfilm sheet S and which are shaft-connectedto another side roller may be adopted, in which case, these side rollersare adapted to engage only the side of the microfilm S with the datastored surface of the microfilms S kept non-engaged condition with siderollers, which arrangement is further effective for avoiding wear ofmicrofilm sheets.

In outline, operation of the abovedescribed device is as follows. Amicrofilm sheet S which is to be set in a microfilm reader, in order toretrieve data stored thereon, is fed manually onto the tray 2, andthrough the passage p, as far as the feeding rollers 4a and 4b, whoserotation has been started due to actuation of the motor 5 upon closureof the microswitch 18 by the microfilm sheet S. At this time the carrier15 is adjacent to the rollers 4a and 4b, the press board being raised,as shown most clearly in FIG. 2, and the feeding rollers 4a and 4b feedthe microfilm sheet S onto the support board 9 as far as the studs 13and 14, at which time the microfilm sheet S also actuates microswitch19. In this position of the microfilm sheet S, the rear edge thereofprojects slightly clear of the rear edge of the support board 9, andjust contacts the rollers 4a and 4b. If the leading edge of themicrofilm sheet S has notches corresponding to the positioning studs 13and 14 formed therein, the studs 13 and 14 may further serve to preventany lateral displacement of the microfilm sheet S on the support board9. Closure of microswitch 19 results in actuation of a carrier drivemeans which moves the carrier 15, and the microfilm sheet S away fromthe base 1 and to a required position in a microfilm reader apparatus,the carrier drive means being stopped upon actuation of a suitablylocated switch, not indicated, by the carrier 15 reaching this requiredposition. During this movement, the pin 16 moves out of engagement withlever 17, and the press board 10 moves down onto the microfilm sheet Sto hold it in place. As the carrier 15 moves away from the base 1, theprojection 15a attached thereto moves out of contact with themicroswitch 20, which is therefore permitted to open, whereupon actionof the motor 5 and the feeding rollers 4a and 4b is stopped. After dataon the microfilm sheet S has been retrieved, closure of a return switch,not shown, causes the carrier 15 to move back to the vicinity of thebase 1 return motion being terminated upon closure of a switch by thecan rier 15, for example. At this time the carrier projection 15a againcomes into contact with and closes microswitch 20, whereupon motor 5 iscaused to supply reverse drive to the rollers 40 and 4b, which, when therear edge of the microfilm sheet S comes into engagement therewith, feedthe microfilm sheet S from the support board 9, onto the tray 2, andthrough the passage p, to again close microswitch 18, until the rearedge of the microfilm sheet S projects to slightly beyond the rear,outer edge of the tray 2. The microfilm sheet S may now be removedmanually, and after complete withdrawal thereof from the passage p, themicroswitch 18 is again opened, which causes the motor 5 to cease, andterminates one sheet insertion and removing process. The speed ofrotation of the feeding rollers 4a and 4b is made slow compared with themotion of-the carrier 15, to permit smooth engagement of the microfilmsheet S upon return of the carrier 15.

It should be noted here that, although only one microswitch 18 isdescribed as employed in the passage p for the microfilm sheet S in theabove embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 as a means for detection of correctpositioning of the sheet S during insertion thereof into the device, twosuch microswitches 18 which physically lie on a line parallel to theline of engagement of the feeding rollers 4a and 4b and electricallyconnected to each other may be disposed in the passage p, and that twomicroswitches equivalent to the microswitch 19 may be provided.

It should also be noted that the horizontal pin 16 for engagement withthe lever 17 described as mounted in a block fixedly attached to thepress board base may be secured to the press board 10 itself or to anyother places on the press board 10 so long as proper engagement ordisengagement thereof with or from the lever 17 can be achieved in theabove described manner.

Similarly, the base block 8 described as fixed to the carrier 15 in theabove embodiment may be integrally formed with the carrier 15.

Control of the abovedescribed actions may be effected by the circuitshown in FIG. 3, to which reference is now had. The control circuitcomprises relays A0, Bo, and Do, respectively controlling contacts A1through A3, B1, and D1 through D5, the motor 5 actuation circuit, andsignal generator SG constituted by capacitor C1, resistors R2 through R4and transistor Q1, and able to supply triggering input to the gateterminal of a thyristor Q2, power to all these elements being suppliablealong lines L1 and L2 from a supply not shown. The circuit also includesa transfer contact which controls actuation of relay Bo, has normallyopen terminal 20a and a normally closed contact 20b, and is actuated bymicroswitch 20. The motor 5 actuation circuit includes the contacts D2and D3 which are transfer contacts provided on parallel lines and have,respectively normally closed terminals D2a and D311, and normally openterminals D2b and D3b, the motor 5 being actuatable to supply forwarddrive when the transfer contacts D2 and D3 are unactuated by relay Doand are closed on terminals D2a and D311, and being actuatable to supplyreverse drive when the transfer contacts D2 and D3 are actuated.

Prior to sheet insertion, the circuit state is as shown in the drawing,all circuit elements being unactuated, except microswitch 20, which isclosed by the projection of the carrier 15. Closure of microswitch 18 bya microfilm sheet S fed into the passage p energizes relay Ao, whichthereupon actuates contacts Al through A3, thus closing the powercircuit to motor 5. Motor 5 supplies forward drive to the feedingrollers 4a and 4b, which draw the microfilm sheet S from the tray 2 tothe support board 9. Contact A3 being closed, actuation of the rollers40 and 4b ismaintained after the rear edge of the microfilm sheet Spasses microswitch 18, and microswitch 18, and microswitch 18 opens.When the microfilm sheet S has fed completely onto the support board 9,the front edge thereof actuates microswitch 19 as noted earlier, causingactuation of a carrier drive means, not indicated. As the carrier 15moves away from the feeding rollers 4a and 4b, mic roswitch 20 isreleased by the projection 15a and closes on contact 20b, therebyenergizing relay Bo, which opens Bl, thus resulting in de-energizationof relay Ao, closure of contact Al on terminal Ala, opening of contactsA2 and,A3, and halting of motor 5. At the same time capacitor C1 ischarged through relay Bo acting as a resistor. In practical terms thetime required for retrieval of data from the microfilm sheet S is alwayssufficient for capacitor C1 to be fully charged. After data retrival,when the carrier 15 is returned, the projection 15a thereof again closesmicroswitch 20, which moves to contact 200. Hereupon, relay B0 isdeenergized and permits contact B1 to close, and capacitor Cl is allowedto discharge through resistor R2 and to supply input to the base oftransistor Q1, which is thereby rendered conductive and supplies atrigger input to the gate of thyristor Q2. If the capacity of capacitorC1 is sufficiently large. the signal generator SG may not be essentialand discharge from capacitor C 1 may be supplied simply through asuitable resistor to thyristor Q2 gate terminal. Thyristor Q2 nowconducts, resulting in energization of relay Do, closure of contacts D1and D4, opening of contact D5, and closure of transfer contacts D2 andD3 on their respective terminals D2b and D3b. Power is now supplied tothe motor actuation circuit, and motor 5 is actuated to supply reversedrive to the feeding rollers 40 and 4b, which draw the microfilm sheet Soff the carrier 15 onto the tray 2, the microfilm sheet S again closingmicroswitch 18 while in the passage p. Microswitch 18 being closed.relay A is again energized, the contacts A2 and A3 are closed, andcontact Al moves to its Alb terminal, thus short-circuiting thyristorQ2, which therefore turns off. Relay Do remains energized, since it isstill connected across lines L1 and L2 through contacts A1 and D1, andthe motor continues to actuate the feeding rollers 4a and 4b to move themicrofilm sheet S outwards until the rear edge thereof projects beyondthe outer edge of the tray 2. Manual withdrawal of the microfilm sheet Snow permits microswitch 18 to open, whereby, since contact D5 is open,relay A0 is de-energized. Contact A1 therefore returns to terminal Alb,resulting in deenergization of relay Do and return of circuit elementsto their original states.

Control may also be effected by the circuit of FIG. 4, in which relay Boand contacts A3 and D5 are dispensed with. relay Ao being connectable toline Ll directly through microswitch 18, and there is included aresistor R5 through which capacitor C 1 is charged upon release ofmicroswitch 20, and a capacitor C3, which is in parallel with relay A0.and serves as a timedelay element. In this circuit, relay Ao action isnot dependent on the state of microswitch 20. When microswitch 18 isclosed by a microfilm sheet S, relay A0 is energized and at the sametime capacitor C3 is charged. After the microfilm sheet S has passed thelo cation of microswitch 18, capacitor C3 discharges to maintain relayAo energized for a time dependent on the value of capacitor C3 and theresistance offered by relay Ao, the capacitor C3 value being selectedwith reference to relay Ao resistance, and being made such thatdischarge time is sufficiently long for the feeding rollers 4a and 4b tobe able to advance the microfilm sheet S completely onto the supportboard 9 during sheet insertion. After discharge of capacitor C3, relayA0 is de-energized, and remains so until next closure of microswitch 18.Other circuit actions are as described above in reference to FIG. 3.

In a second embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 8in which motor drive transmission means A is further incorporated in theembodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, the rear edge portion of a microfilm sheet Sremains engaged by the rollers 40 and 4b during carrier l5 movement,thereby avoiding problems such as displacement of position for themicrofilm sheet S due to vibration of the carrier during return motionthereof resulting in failure of the microfilm sheet S to come intoproper engagement with the rollers 40 and 4b.

Referring to FIG. 5, the feeding rollers 40 and 4b and associated gearwheels 6 and 6' in the second embodiment are rotatably mounted on boardsand has fixedly mounted on a and 7b, which are fixedly attached to andextend vertically upwards from opposite sides of the rear end portion ofthe carrier 15. In other words, the feeding rollers 4a and 4b do notchange location relative to the carrier 15, and are carried transverselytogether therewith away from or back towards the tray 2. The rotatoryshaft for one of the rollers 4a and 4b, for example, the shaft for therollers 4b, projects to the exterior of the mounting board 7b, and hasfixedly mounted on the outer end thereof a transmission roll 4, which isengageable between rollers 23 and 27 rotatably mounted on ends ofpivotal levers 22 and 22', respectively. The levers 22 and 22' aremounted on a vertical board 21, which is fixedly attached to one side ofbase 1. and also provides mounting support for the motor 5. Referringnow to FIGS. 60 to 60. one end of the lever 22 is pivotally mounted onthe output shaft 5a of the motor 5, which extends through the mountingboard 21. In the other end of the lever 22 there is rotatably mounted apin 22a, on which the abovementioned roller 23 and a pulley 25 arefixedly mounted, the roller 23 and pulley 25 being on opposite sides ofthe lever 22. A pulley 24, which is fixedly mounted on the motor outputshaft 5a, between the lever 22 and mounting board 21, is connected tothe pulley 25 by a belt 26, whereby rotation of the drive shaft 5a forforward or reverse drive is transmitted to the roller 23. One end of theother lever 22' is pivotally mounted on a pin 28 which is fixedlyattached to the mounting board 21, and in the opposite end thereof thereis fixedly mounted a pin 22a, on which the abovementioned roller 27,which serves as an idle roller, is rotatably mounted. The levers 22 and22' are connected by a compression spring 29, which draws the levers 22and 22 together as far as is permitted by a separator element 30 whichhas large and small radius portions, and is provided between andcontacting the lever 22 and 22. The separator element 30 is fixedlymounted on a rotatory shaft which is controlled by a rotary solenoid 31mounted on the board 21. When the rotary solenoid 31 is actuated, theseparator element 30 is turned so that the small radius portions thereofcome into contact with the levers 22 and 22', which are drawn by thespring 29 to positions in which the rollers 23 and 27 mounted on theends thereof may engage the transmission roller 4, as shown in FIG. 6a,in which configuration drive from the motor 5 may be transmitted to therollers 4a and 4b. When the rotary solenoid 31 is unactuated, theseparator element 30 is turned so that the large radius portions thereofcome into contact with the levers 22 and 22', as shown in FIG. 60,whereby the levers 22 and 22 are pushed apart and the rollers 23 and 27are moved out of engagement with the transmission rollers 4. The rotarysolenoid 31 is always actuated when the motor 5 is actuated, whether inforward or reverse drive.

Referring back to FIG. 5, with the abovedescribed device, initially,when the carrier 15 is adjacent to the guide tray 2, the rollers 23 and27 are in line but not in engagement with the transmission roller 4, butare brought into engagement therewith simultaneously with actuation ofmotor 5 resulting from closure of microswitch 18 by a microfilm sheet Spassing through passage p. The rollers 23 and 27 remain in engagementwith transmission roller 4 and motor drive continues to be supplied tothe feeding rollers 4a and 4b until the leading edge of the microfilmsheet S reaches and closes microswitch 19, closure of whichsimultaneously actuates a carrier 15 drive means, stops the motor 5 andde-energizes the rotary solenoid 31 whereby the separator element 30 isturned to push the levers 22 and 22' apart, to move the rollers 23 and27 out of engagement with the transmission roller 4. At this stage,opposite side rear edge portions of the microfilm sheet S are stillengaged by the rollers 4a and 4b, and remain engaged thereby during thewhole time in which the carrier 15 is moved to a required position, datais retrieved from the microfilm sheet S, and the carrier 15 is movedback to the vicinity of the tray 2, thus ensuring that the microfilmsheet S may be subsequently supplied accurately back onto the tray 2.When the carrier 15 returns to the vicinity of the base 1, closure ofmicroswitch 20 by the projection 15a, simultaneously actuates the motor5 and rotary solenoid 31, whereby the separator element 30 is turned,and through the action of the spring 29, the rollers 23 and 27, whichare cur rently rotated by drive supplied from the motor 5, are broughtinto engagement with the transmission roller 4, which supplies reversedrive to the rollers 4a and 4b to draw the microfilm sheet S fromthesupport board 9 onto the tray 2. Reverse drive continues to besupplied until the rear edge of the microfilm sheet S extends over therear edge of the tray 2, after which manual withdrawal of the microfilmsheet S causes the microswitch 18 to re-open, the means thus being madeready for another sheet insertion and removing process.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a circuit diagram of a controlmeans suitable for accomplishing the abovedescribed actions. The circuitmay be seen to be the same as that described in reference to FIG. 3,except that signal generator capacitor C1 is charged through a resistorR5 upon release of microswitch 20, relay B is energized upon closure ofmicroswitch 19, and power line L2 comprises an extra loop L2a, on whichrotary solenoid 31 is provided in parallel to the motor actuationcircuit, whereby rotary solenoid 31 is energized when motor 5 isactuated to supply forward or reverse drive. Microswitch 19 alsoconnects through means not shown to a carrier drive means. Duringinsertion of a microfilm sheet S, closure of microswitch 18 causesrotary solenoid 31 to be energized and the motor 5 to supply forwarddrive until the front edge of the microfilm sheet S closes microswitch19. This action starts the carrier 15 drive means, and simultaneouslyenergizes relay Bo, which opens contact B1 to de-energize relay Ao, thusresulting in opening of contact A2, to stop motor 5 and de-energizerotary solenoid 31. The rollers 23 and 27 therefore disengagetransmission roller 4, and the carrier 15 moves to a required positionin a reader apparatus. When the carrier 15 returns to the vicinity ofthe base 1, the action of the signal generator SG and tyristor Q2 causesthe motor 5 to supply reverse drive to the roller 23, and energizesrotary solenoid 31, to bring the rollers 23 and 27 into engagement withtransmission roller 4, whereupon the microfilm sheet S is drawn from thesupport board 9, simultaneously moving out of contact with microswitchl9. Relay B0 is therefore de-energized and contact B1 closes, thuspermitting energization of relay A0, to maintain action of motor 5 androtary solenoid 31, when the microfilm sheet S closes microswitch 18.After complete withdrawal of the microfilm sheet S from the tray 2,microswitch 18 again opens, and the control circuit elements return totheir original states. FIG. 8 shows a modification of the circuit ofFIG. 7 in which relay Bo and contact B1 are dispensed with, and

film sheets due to friction during handling or manual positioning of thesheets inherent in the conventional device have been reduced to a greatextent, which arrangement, if applied to an automatic informationretrieval apparatus, serves the purpose most efficiently.

Furthermore, in the modification of FIGS. 5 to 8, since the rear edge ofthe microfilm sheet remains held between the feeding rollers,displacement of the sheet due to vibration arising from the movement ofthe carrier is advantageously eliminated.

Moreover, if a pair of side rollers are employed instead of the pair offeeding rollers so that the microfilm sheets are fed by these siderollers engaging only the side of the sheets with the data storedfurface of the sheets adapted to be free from contact with rollersurfaces, further improvement for avoiding damage or wear to themicrofilm sheets can be expected.

Although the present invention has been fully described by way ofexample with reference to the attached drawings, it is to be noted thatvarious changes and modifications are apparent to those skilled in theart. For example, the feeding rollers described as adapted to stop whenthe microfilm sheet has been fed into the carrier are not necessarily bestopped, but may be adapted to rotate continuously from the object ofthe present invention. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes andmodifications depart from the scope of the present invention, theyshould be construed as included therein.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sheet insertion and removing device for use in microfilm readersor the like apparatus which comprises a sheet carrierincluding means forpositioning a sheet supplied thereon in a required position and meansfor holding said sheet on said carrier for retrieval of data stored onsaid sheet, an improvement thereof for automatic insertion and removingof the sheet into or from said carrier comprises feeding means for sheetfeeding, a guide member forming a passage for said sheet, a carriermember provided thereon with sheet positioning means and sheet holdingmeans and adapted to reciprocate relative to said guide member, an uppersurface of said carrier member being adapted to be level with that ofsaid guide member, first switch means provided in said passage on saidguide means and actuated by insertion of said sheet into said passagefor causing said feeding means to feed said sheet onto said carriermember, second switch means for driving said carrier member forward awayfrom a starting position to a predetermined position which second switchmeans is disposed on said carrier member and actua tEfi when said sheethas been positioned on said carrief member, said carrier member beingadapted to stop at said predetermined position during retrieval of saiddata stored on said sheet and to subsequently return back to saidstarting position, third switch means dis posed between said carrieriijfiliiber and aid giild member so as to be admired wli'li saia earnermember 1 1 has returned to said starting position for causing saidfeeding means to discharge said sheet back onto said guide member.

2. A sheet insertion and removing device as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid third switch means is further adapted to be actuated for stoppingaction of said feeding means when said carrier member moved from saidstarting position.

3. A sheet insertion and removing device as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid feeding means comprises a pair of rotatable feeding rollers drivenby a motor which are in parallel and in contact with each other forsimultaneous rotation and disposed in a direction parallel to acorresponding front edge of said guide member.

4. A sheet insertion and removing device as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid carrier member further comprises a base block fixedly mounted on amovable carrier plate said base block being disposed level with asurface of said guide member.

5. A sheet insertion and removing device as claimed in claim 4, whereinsaid carrier member includes a press board pivotally connected to saidbase block for covering a support board provided on said carrier member,said press board being provided thereon with a pin member disposed in adirection parallel to the surface of said press board and adapted toengage with a curved end portion of a lever member fixed to a hous ingof a apparatus when said carrier member has reached the positionadjacent to said guide member so that said press board is turned upwardabout said pivotal connection, and to disengage from said curved endportion of said lever member when said carrier member has reached saidpredetermined position away from said guide member so that press boardis turned downward about said pivotal connection to cover said supportboard.

6. A sheet insertion and removing device as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid first switch means comprises a microswitch disposed in said passageon said guide member.

7. In a sheet insertion and removing device for use in microfilm readersor the like apparatus which comprises a sheet carrier including meansfor positioning a sheet supplied thereon in a required position andmeans for holding said sheet on said carrier for retrieval of datastored on said sheet, an improvement thereof for automatic insertion andremoving of the sheet into or from said carrier comprises a carriermember which has a sheet positioning means and sheet holding meansthereon and which is provided with feeding means mounted on an edge ofsaid carrier member adjacent to a guide member which forms a passage forsaid sheet, said carrier member being adapted to reciprocate relative tosaid guide member with an upper surface of said carrier member beinglevel with that of said guide member and with one edge of said sheetbeing held by said feeding means during reciprocation of said carriermember, first switch means provided in said passage on said guide meansand actuated by insertion of said sheet into said passage for causingsaid feeding means to feed said sheet onto said carrier member, secondswitch means for driving said carrier member forward away from astarting position thereof adjacent to said guide member to apredetermined position and also for stopping action of said feedingmeans, which second switch means is disposed on said carrier member andactuated when said sheet has been position on said carrier member, saidcarrier member being adapted to stop at said predetermined positionduring retrieval of said data stored on said sheet and to subsequentlyreturn back to said starting position, third switch means disposedbetween said carrier member and said guide member so as to be actuatedwhen said carrier member has returned to said starting position forcausing said feeding means to discharge said sheet back onto said guidemember.

8. A sheet insertion and removing device as claimed in claim 7, whereinsaid feeding means comprises a pair of rotatable feeding rollers drivenby a motor which are in parallel and in contact with each other forsimultaneous rotation and disposed in a direction parallel to acorresponding front edge of said guide member.

9. A sheet insertion and removing device disengage claimed in claim 7,wherein said carrier member further comprises a base block fixedlymounted on a movable carrier plate, said base block being disposed levelwith a surface of said guide member.

10. A sheet insertion and removing device as claimed in claim 7, whereinsaid carrier member includes a press board pivotally connected to saidsupport board for covering a support board provided on said carriermember, said press board being provided thereon with a pin memberdisposed in a direction parallel to the surface of said press board andadapted to engage with a curved end portion of a lever member fixed to ahousing of an apparatus when said carrier member has reached theposition adjacent to said guide member so that said press board isturned upward about said pivotal connection, and to disengage from saidcurved end portion of said lever member when said carrier member hasreached said predetermined position away from said guide member so thatsaid press board is turned downward about said pivotal connection tocover said support board.

11. A sheet insertion and removing device as claimed in claim 7, whereinsaid first switch means comprises a microswitch disposed in said passageon said guide member.

1. In a sheet insertion and removing device for use in microfilm readersor the like apparatus which comprises a sheet carrier including meansfor positioning a sheet supplied thereon in a required position andmeans for holding said sheet on said carrier for retrieval of datastored on said sheet, an improvement thereof for automatic insertion andremoving of the sheet into or from said carrier comprises feeding meansfor sheet feeding, a guide member forming a passage for said sheet, acarrier member provided thereon with sheet positioning means and sheetholding means and adapted to reciprocate relative to said guide member,an upper surface of said carrier member being adapted to be level withthat of said guide member, first switch means provided in said passageon said guide means and actuated by insertion of said sheet into saidpassage for causing said feeding means to feed said sheet onto saidcarrier member, second switch means for driving said carrier memberforward away from a starting position to a predetermined position whichsecond switch means is disposed on said carrier member and actuated whensaid sheet has been positioned on said carrier member, said carriermember being adapted to stop at said predetermined position duringretrieval of said data stored on said sheet and to subsequently returnback to said starting position, third switch means disposed between saidcarrier member and said guide member so as to be actuated when saidcarrier member has returned to said starting position for causing saidfeeding means to discharge said sheet back onto said guide member.
 2. Asheet insertion and removing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidthird switch means is further adapted to be actuated for stopping actionof said feeding means when said carrier member moved from said startingposition.
 3. A sheet insertion and removing device as claimed in claim1, wherein said feeding means comprises a pair of rotatable feedingrollers driven by a motor which are in parallel and in contact with eachother for simultaneous rotation and disposed in a direction parallel toa corresponding front edge of said guide member.
 4. A sheet insertionand removing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carrier memberfurther comprises a base block fixedly mounted on a movable carrierplate said base block being disposed level with a surface of said guidemember.
 5. A sheet insertion and removing device as claimed in claim 4,wherein said carrier member includes a press board pivotally connectedto said base block for covering a support board provided on said carriermember, said press board being provided thereon with a pin memberdisposed in a direction parallel to the surface of said press board andadapted to engage with a curved end portion of a lever member fixed to ahousing of a apparatus when said carrier member has reached the positionadjacent to said guide member so that said press board is turned upwardabout said piVotal connection, and to disengage from said curved endportion of said lever member when said carrier member has reached saidpredetermined position away from said guide member so that press boardis turned downward about said pivotal connection to cover said supportboard.
 6. A sheet insertion and removing device as claimed in claim 1,wherein said first switch means comprises a microswitch disposed in saidpassage on said guide member.
 7. In a sheet insertion and removingdevice for use in microfilm readers or the like apparatus whichcomprises a sheet carrier including means for positioning a sheetsupplied thereon in a required position and means for holding said sheeton said carrier for retrieval of data stored on said sheet, animprovement thereof for automatic insertion and removing of the sheetinto or from said carrier comprises a carrier member which has a sheetpositioning means and sheet holding means thereon and which is providedwith feeding means mounted on an edge of said carrier member adjacent toa guide member which forms a passage for said sheet, said carrier memberbeing adapted to reciprocate relative to said guide member with an uppersurface of said carrier member being level with that of said guidemember and with one edge of said sheet being held by said feeding meansduring reciprocation of said carrier member, first switch means providedin said passage on said guide means and actuated by insertion of saidsheet into said passage for causing said feeding means to feed saidsheet onto said carrier member, second switch means for driving saidcarrier member forward away from a starting position thereof adjacent tosaid guide member to a predetermined position and also for stoppingaction of said feeding means, which second switch means is disposed onsaid carrier member and actuated when said sheet has been position onsaid carrier member, said carrier member being adapted to stop at saidpredetermined position during retrieval of said data stored on saidsheet and to subsequently return back to said starting position, thirdswitch means disposed between said carrier member and said guide memberso as to be actuated when said carrier member has returned to saidstarting position for causing said feeding means to discharge said sheetback onto said guide member.
 8. A sheet insertion and removing device asclaimed in claim 7, wherein said feeding means comprises a pair ofrotatable feeding rollers driven by a motor which are in parallel and incontact with each other for simultaneous rotation and disposed in adirection parallel to a corresponding front edge of said guide member.9. A sheet insertion and removing device disengage claimed in claim 7,wherein said carrier member further comprises a base block fixedlymounted on a movable carrier plate, said base block being disposed levelwith a surface of said guide member.
 10. A sheet insertion and removingdevice as claimed in claim 7, wherein said carrier member includes apress board pivotally connected to said support board for covering asupport board provided on said carrier member, said press board beingprovided thereon with a pin member disposed in a direction parallel tothe surface of said press board and adapted to engage with a curved endportion of a lever member fixed to a housing of an apparatus when saidcarrier member has reached the position adjacent to said guide member sothat said press board is turned upward about said pivotal connection,and to disengage from said curved end portion of said lever member whensaid carrier member has reached said predetermined position away fromsaid guide member so that said press board is turned downward about saidpivotal connection to cover said support board.
 11. A sheet insertionand removing device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first switchmeans comprises a microswitch disposed in said passage on said guidemember.